By Solomon Okpo.
The Akwa Ibom State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 799 drug-related suspects, including a dismissed soldier, and seized over 2,000 kilograms of hard drugs between 2024 and February 2025.
The State Commander of NDLEA, Mrs. Obot Uduak Bassey, made this revelation yesterday during a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Uyo. She disclosed that 181 of the arrested suspects have already been convicted, while efforts to combat drug trafficking remain ongoing.
Describing Akwa Ibom as a major hotspot for drug use and trafficking, Mrs. Bassey identified several notorious flashpoints in the state. She also highlighted the dangers faced by NDLEA operatives, noting that many officers have lost their lives in the fight against illicit drug networks.
“One of our members was burned alive in an operation this year. Several others have been killed while working to dismantle drug cartels,” she lamented.
She further revealed that drug traffickers have devised new ways to distribute illicit substances by concealing them in local delicacies such as ekpangnkukwo, pepper soup, chin chin, and cakes, which are often served at night vigils and wedding celebrations.
Mrs. Bassey also mentioned the agency’s efforts in tackling drug-related activities within the Hausa community in Nasarawa and at Marina Roundabout in Eket, where NDLEA officers have faced mob attacks and gunfire.
While commending the state government for its support through the Akwa Ibom State Drug Control Committee led by the First Lady’s office, she called on parents and guardians to monitor their children’s activities, particularly online, to prevent them from falling into drug abuse due to peer pressure and lack of parental guidance.
The visit concluded with the presentation of the NDLEA Today magazine to the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Amos Etuk.
